Players feeling fresh after bye week

FSU practices in anticipation of nationally televised game at VT

Nov. 7, 2012

Wide receiver Kenny Shaw runs the ball for a touchdown during Florida State’s matchup with Boston College on Oct. 13. Shaw is expected to be able to be able to play Thursday night against Virginia Tech despite being in a recent car accident. / Zachary Gldstein/FSView

Written by

Alexis Schulman

Staff Writer

Anyone who wandered past Florida State’s practice fields this week while the Seminoles were preparing to travel to Virginia Tech may have noticed a strange noise emanating from the fields at increasing volumes. The sounds were the blasting of simulated crowd noise to allow the Seminoles to get ready for the loud environment that will meet them in Blacksburg.

“We will have noise out there and do all of the things that you’ve got to do to prepare for all of that, but you just have to make sure that you communicate,” head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “That’s where I think maturity comes in and we’ve been on the road already a few times, so I think that will help out. We’ve got to revert back and communicate.”

Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium is known for its noise and impassioned fans steeped in tradition.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” Fisher said. “It’s one of the bigger and louder ones for sure.Their folks get behind things, especially on Thursday nights. We were up there on a Saturday a few years ago and it got pretty loud—great atmosphere. They’ve always had that tradition.”

Quarterback EJ Manuel, a Virginia native, has never played in Lane Stadium, but knows of the atmosphere that the Hokies create in their house.

“I have never been to a game there, but I know it’s a great stadium,” Manuel said. “They have great fans; everybody in Blacksburg and the surrounding area loves Virginia Tech because that is pretty much all they have. They might be [Washington] Redskin fans too but I know they love VT, so it’s going to be crazy. They are going to hate us, I know that; they are going to hate me being that I am from Virginia and came here [Florida State]. I already know what to expect.”

Stats of the week

- Florida State has held opponents to an average of 277 yards and ranks No. 1 in the nation.

- Gaining an average of 525 yards, FSU’s offense ranks No. 7 in the country in total offense.

Quotable

- “The first 15 plays we have scripted up for the game we hope [that] all 15 will be touchdowns, but nine times out of 10 they will not be that way, so we just have to execute, move the ball down the field and get first downs.”—EJ Manuel on getting the offense started early

Notables

- Jimbo Fisher noted that receiver Kenny Shaw did not practice on Tuesday, but should be fine for Thursday’s game.

“He got banged in a car wreck. He’s alright, just got shook up […] It wasn’t his [fault], somebody hit him in the back. He’ll be fine.”

- Wide receiver Willie Haulstead has caught the eye of Jimbo Fisher and has been impressing the coaching staff. “Willie’s been ready to play,” Fisher said. “He’s been jumping in there, he’s ready to play, so he’ll play. We’ve felt more comfortable the last couple weeks. We’ve been playing him more and more.”

- There are no unexpected injuries this week and Manuel and the starters are feeling rested after the bye.

“I know my legs personally feel a lot better, throwing the ball great, arms and shoulders feel great,” Manuel said. “The receivers are running great routes and everything is clean. Guys aren’t moping through practice. I think the fact that we had a day or two days off last week helped us out a lot. Guys taking care of their bodies.”